TRAPPED IN BURNING MOTOR-CAR

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 16, 13 October 1927, Page 11

TRAPPED IN BURNING MOTOR-CAR

MISHAP TO WEDDING i PARTY FOUR SERIOUSLY BURNED BRIDE’S FATHER IN SERI- : OUS CONDITION Dominion Special Service. Auckland, October IS. To be in a motor-car which was enveloped in flames was the ordeal of a party of six Te Atatu residents who were to be guests at . a wedding i that was held at Hamilton to-day* telegraphs the “Herald’s” Hamilton correspondent. The accident occurred while the party were motoring through Te Kauwhata at 9.30 this morning. The six members of the partv were seriously burned about the head and body, and four of them: are in a serious condition. The mem- , bers of tlie partv are as follow: Mr- , Lionel Richards Moore, aged 27, single; ■ Mr. Wilfred Illingworth, aged 95, married; Mr. Sutherland Shaw, aged 45,married; Mrs. Theodore Marshall, aged 60; Miss Eileen Moore, aged 29; Miss Mvrtle McDonald, aged 21. The victims of the accident left their homes at Te Atatu, near Henderson* at an early hour this morning to attend the wedding at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, this afternoon: of Mr. Stanley Wright, of Henderson, ' to Miss Myrtle Shaw, of Te. Atatix. When the car, a six-seater, which was owned and driven by Mr. L. R. Moore, was passing through Te Kauwhata, the front portion of the vehicle burst into flames. Almost instantly the whole vehicle was enveloped, and every member of the party was burned. Id the front seat with the driver (MJj Moore) were Messrs. Illingworth atfll Shaw. The two first-named were. abio to extricate themselves fairly quickly, and were not so badly injured as the others were. Mr. Shaw could not open the door of the car, and had to be assisted out. He was very badly burned. The flames caught the ladies, and they were unable to move without help. All of them -were severely burned. Friends following in other cars and residents of Tekauwhata were quickly on the scene and did all they could for the sufferers. The members, of the party were brought into the Waikato Hospital. Mr. Shaw, who is the father of the bride, was burned about the face, hands and legs, and is suffering severely from shock. His condition this evening was reported to be dangerous. Mrs. Marshall, who is the grandmother of the bride, was . severely burned, and is suffering from shock; her condition is dangerous. The condition of the Misses McDonald anil Moore is also very serious.

The wedding was not postponed, although the ceremony and following festivities were saddened by the tragic occurrence.

The car, which was not insured, was totally destroyed.